Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-03
CHURCH DEDICATION
THE HANDSOME NEW CHURCH BDlFICE OF
ST. ALPHONSUS CONGREGATION
Dedicated Yesterday Morning BY r. Rev. Bishop
Ksin-fhs Services Very Imposing
POndfcal High Mass Celebrated.

The new st. AlphonSus German Catholic
Church was formally dedicated yesterday
morning with appropriate services. The
old st. Alphonsus Church, while not very
old in years, was found TO be unsafe abeut
two years ago, and the congregation deter
mined to have in torn down and a new ed
ifice erected. Acting upon this decision
the Building Committee, which was APP
pointed for the purpose, put a force OF
workmen upon the old building in April,
1856, and it was not long before the ruins
were cleared away.
In the meantime Rev. Father Angelus,
one of the Dominican priests, under whose
charge the church IL conducted, n who
was a very learned man, drew up plans
for a new edifiee, after his own ideas. As
he had q great deal of experience in such
matters, having built several churches IN
various parts of the country previously, II
was all concentrated into the plans for the
new st. AlphonSus, and how successful
and elaborate they were it only requires
a visit to the new and handsome edifce to
discover. The only cause for regret Is
that the respected and talented Father did
not live to see the accomplishment of his
plans and ideas, although he assisted in the
corner stone laying. Later he be-
came i'll and left the city
IN hope of recuperatIDg his health,
but he died some months afterwards at a
monastery in Pennsylvania, whittier he
bad gone.
THE Ian
were placed in the hands of architect f.
w. Wells, and all who are connected with
the matter know that he carried them u
faithfully and efficiently, adding his me-
ehanical ingenuity and artistic skill to
those OF the worthy Father, the result be
ing an ediiee Of which any city might be
proud.
In August, 1886, the stOnework was
completed by Scheele & LutZ, the on
tractors, and the corner stone was laid,
the ceremonies on which occasion are
| doubtless well remembered by our citizens.
From that time on the building was
pushed rapidly forward, as it was intended
TO dedicate the edifice last August, but
this was prevented from the fact that sew
eral of the contracts were not completed
on time, the one for furnishing the seats
being principally the cause of the delay.
The auditorium is "a feet wide and 100
feet long. The ceiling is of RomaneSque
architecture with groined arches. Ii is 33
feet high through the arches and As feet
in the nave or centre of the auditorium.
The walls are handsomely painted in light
cOlors and the freScoing is beautiful and
in perfect harmony with the walls, the
w~ainscOating and the pews, the
the latter of which are of
hard wood. The walls between the win
dows are hung with fourteen handsomely
framed paintings, showing the
PROSECUTIONS OF JESUS CHRIST
by the Jews. These pictures were
brought from Switzerland. The windows
are of beautiful stained glass and are SO
arranged that the church is exceedingly
well lighted. The frescoing was done by
A. Steubuer of Pittsburg.
The gallery is 36xT3 feet, and in the
centre of it q large new pipe organ is
located, along with the choir box, while
the front row Of seats on either side are
boxed of for the accommodation OF the
the Sisters of st. AlphOnsus school. The
interior Of the building is not yet complet-
ed, as the confessionals have not yet been
put in, and the affairs and pulpit are only
temporary affairs. Several of the priest
hood are engaged upon the carved work OF
three new affairs, the main II OF which
will tower thirty-ive feet above the floor,
the top to form a canopy over the whole.
The altar railing is very handsome and was
decorated in gold and bright colors by two
of the Dominican brethren.
The spire pierces the air a distance .Ot
1876 feet and ia one of perfect symmetry
and beauty. Klieves, Kraft 4 Co. did the
wood work, Carl Hamilton most of the
brick work, e. w. Baggs the plastering
and Benjamin Higgins the painting and
granting Of the wood work and b. f. Cald-
well the roofing and tin work. The basement
of this building il - feet high, ~ feet
wide and l20feet long. The entire cost OF
the new building including the old ma
terial used, will be about $45, 600 or $50,
900, but st. AlphOnsus il a large and
prosperous congregation and doubtless
will soon have the debt cleared away.
THE SERVICES.
Yesterday morning about S:i5 the
Knights of st. George, in full uniform,
headed by the Opera House band, left their
hall and marched to st. Alphonsus Hall,
where they were met by the Knights of
st. John and the st. AlphOnsus Society,
both in full regalia, and the body marched
to the residence of Rt. Rev. Bishop Kahn,
where that gentleman, accompanied by
Father McElligOtt, entered a carriage
which contained Father Angelus. The
procession then proceeded to the church
in the following order:
It. AlphOusus MarShals.
Opera House Band.
Knights OF St. George.
Knights of -. John.
Hrrry.fF. 1,pfafpfur f1nrtFy-t,aU